The Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed its decision ordering the perpetual disqualification of former Nueva Ecija governor and former congressman Aurelio Umali from holding public office.

The case stemmed from Umali allowing the use of P15 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), otherwise known as the “pork barrel fund,” in the questioned purchase of liquid fertilizer and a water pump.

The Ombudsman denied Umali’s motion for reconsideration as it found him and co-respondent Renato Manantan “guilty of grave misconduct, gross negligence of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

The two were “meted the penalty of dismissal from the service with forfeiture of all their retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to re-enter government service.”

The two were found to have violated Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Law.

Manantan was executive director of the Department of Agriculture in Region 3 when Umali was congressman of the third district of Nueva Ecija.

Umali was accused of conspiring with the Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (MAMFI) for the release of his PDAF for 2015.

A memorandum of agreement between Umali and MAMFI submitted to DA effected the procurement of P12 million worth of fertilizer and a water pump for P3 million for the Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi Inc.

The 7,920 bottles of liquid fertilizer was overpriced at P1,500 each (it sold at P150 per bottle in the market) in the “purchase” made using Umali’s PDAF.

Moreover, no real purchase was made from the purported fertilizer supplier.